Olympic silver medallist Michael Jamieson admitted injury was to blame as he missed out in the 200m breaststroke final at the World Championships.
The British champion could only finish fifth after clocking 2.09.14minutes with teammate Andrew Willis coming home fourth after going 0.01 faster.
Daniel Gyurta, who beat Jamieson to Olympic gold in the 200m breaststroke last summer, took the title in a new Championship and European record of 2.07.23.
German Marco Koch placed second and Finland’s Matti Mattsson third with Jamieson insisting a bicep tendon injury had robbed him of the stamina he needed to medal.
“My real strength is that back end 50m and that stems from conditioning – it is fitness that gives you that,” he said.
“Unfortunately this is just beyond that threshold and in the last couple of weeks I’ve just been losing fitness.
“I know that when I am 100 per cent I can challenge Gyurta, last year gave me that belief to do that and trials this year showed what I can do at 100 per cent.”
Meanwhile in the 200m backstroke final in Barcelona fellow Scot Craig McNally rocketed his way to a new personal best of 1:55.67.
Heading into the worlds his lifetime best was 1:56.36 but the 20-year-old showed no signs of nerves on debut to finish sixth in the medal showdown.
“I can’t be disappointed with that, I’ve come in and done over a half-a-second personal best,” said McNally.
“I did what I have come here to do which is to try and get faster at each stage and move up the rankings.
“To finish in sixth place in the final is great and I am really happy with that. I thought I had another fast time in me.”
Meanwhile, a new-look British men’s 4x200m freestyle relay team finished eighth – the quartet of James Guy, Robbie Renwick, Josh Walsh and Jak Scott touching home in 7.12.00.
“Those veterans from back in the day like David Carry and Ross Davenport that were proven relay swimmers aren’t here and so it is good to see the younger guys step up to this event,” said Renwick.
Fran Halsall qualified for the 50m butterfly final third-fastest but she admits her focus will still be on the 50m freestyle.
The 23-year-old broke her own British record in the heats, clocking 25.69seconds to advance to the semi-finals as the joint quickest qualifier.
But with the 50m freestyle starting on the same day as the 50m butterfly final she will be going all out to make another final in that.
“Without doubt the 50m freestyle is my main focus, my job [in the butterfly] was to come and get a final and a lane,” said Halsall.
“But I’ve only got two swims that are important, to get to the final of the 50m free, so I’m looking forward to that.”
Elsewhere, Michael Rock exited in the semi-finals of the 100m butterfly in a time of 52.55.
© Sportsbeat 2013